WLT Monitoring

Western Leopard Toad (Sclerophrys pantherina) Monitoring.
To collect images that can be used as a fingerprint to recognise individuals and model population trends.

The WLT Management Committee oversees the training and management of the volunteers who help with preventing carnage on Cape Town roads during the breeding season of the Western Leopard Toad in spring every year.

This project collects that data tagged as suitable for fingerprinting to track individual toads.
Ideally observations should be:

• a clear view of the back.
• the toad taking up most of the picture, but eyes and bum clearly visible.
• the toad upright (i.e. the head up - north)
• no dirt or plant material obscuring the back
• good contrast and in focus

Please add the following data

• sex-age (male, female, juvenile, etc.)
• animal state (live, dead)
• female state (in berry, empty)
• movement direction (to ponds, away from ponds)

If you use the iNaturalist app, it is an excellent way of rapidly collecting this data. Just take a picture, and add the WLT-monitoring Project and fill in the data fields. The app is super fast and ideal for use in rainy, busy roads with lots of toads. But please beware: your safety is paramount!
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